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How the GOP Can Win the Budget Battle

Democrats will bewail every domestic program cut. Can Republicans convince the public we can't afford to play this game any longer?

By

Fred Barnes

Updated Feb. 23, 2011 12:01 a.m. ET

Republicans won a blockbuster victory in November's election after a campaign focused on cutting government spending and reducing debt. Then they got the bad news: Americans are leery of cutting specific programs.

These include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, national defense, veterans' benefits, education, highways, mass transit, unemployment benefits, agriculture and the environment. A post-election poll by YouGov/Polimetrix...

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